Deaf Studies

American Sign Language courses are all offered as day and as evening classes. The four content courses are offered as hybrid courses with most work done online and limited weekend meetings or as evening/weekend courses. If a student has no previous American Sign Language training, the certificate will take two years of part-time study, taking two courses per semester.

The successful student is self-motivated, outgoing, and has an interest in understanding and working with the deaf community, its heritage, and resources. Students must also be interested in developing their ability to communicate with others using American Sign language and learning the linguistics of the language, and must have strong English written communication skills .

This professional certificate program is open to all students with a baccalaureate degree and an interest in American Sign Language and deaf studies. The certificate can provide additional training needed for a current career or prepare students for a variety of new careers, and may allow students to enter an interpreting program with knowledge of deaf culture and American Sign Language. Students will build American Sign Language skills, obtain knowledge about the heritage and culture of the deaf community, expand their ability to work in fields such as education, rehabilitation, social work, law, nursing and other health professions, and psychology, as well as meet the needs of deaf individuals in schools, the workplace and the community.  Students will have sufficient American Sign Language proficiency upon completion of this certificate to enter an interpreting program to be able to work as an interpreter.

This program is the equivalent of a minor in deaf studies for those who have previously completed any baccalaureate degree.

UC Blue Ash College

Foreign Language Department

9555 Plainfield Rd.

Cincinnati, OH

Sheri Barksdale

513-936-1549

barksdsk@ucmail.uc.edu

The deaf studies certificate can be earned entirely through online/hybrid and evening courses.

UC Blue Ash is a regional campus of the University of Cincinnati that is conveniently located. UCBA offers low fees for tuition, technology, student life and parking.

Small classes and personal attention make UC Blue Ash College an excellent choice for furthering your education.

UCBA is conveniently located in suburban Blue Ash and offers a variety of day, evening and weekend classes, as well as distance learning and hybrid courses.

Students need to earn no lower than a C in all required courses, and have a final grade point average at UCBA of at least 2.5.

In order to graduate, you must complete an application for degree or certificate, usually the semester before you expect to complete the program. You should see your advisor for specific information well in advance of your final term.

As part of the application to the certificate program, students need to submit a copy of their transcript indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree in any major. Contact the program advisor for other required application materials.

Credits are accepted from any institution currently accredited by any of the six regional accrediting agencies. Enrollment Services shall have discretionary authority to accept credits from other institutions in consultation with program directors or department chairpersons. Application of transfer credit to the student's program is at the discretion of the appropriate program director or department chairperson.

Transfer students must take at least one-half of the required course work in this certificate program at UCBA to qualify for graduation.

Students changing majors from other programs or colleges within UC will be considered based on the same criteria as outside transfers. Transfer students must take at least one-half of the required course work in a selected program at UCBA to qualify for graduation.

There are no additional requirements for international students.